Hosiery shaping apparatus



b- 1959 I M. HELIOT 2,874,884

HOSIERY SHAPING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 29, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 24, 1959 Filed Dec. 29, 1954 M. HELIOT HOSIERY SHAPING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 24, 1959 I 7 Filed Dec. 29, 1954 M. HELIOT HOSIERY SHAPING APPARATUS Has 4 She ets-Sheet 4 This invention relates to a method of shaping articles of hosiery and especially socks. The invention is further directed to a machine for performing said method.

In the shaping of hosiery made of synthetic or other fibres, and particularly socks, to which last-named articles exclusive reference will be made in the ensuing disclosure although it should be understood that the invention is not restricted thereto, it is customary to insert the socks over forms in the moist condition within a sealedheating enclosure, such as an autoclave or the like. t

,The invention is directed to a method such that the socks need not be subjected to any special pro-shaping treatment prior to their insertion in the heating enclosure.

According toone feature of the invention, the socks, placed in the dry state over forms are introduced into a sealed enclosurein which they arefirst subjected to a pro-heating step, then a steaming step under reduced pressure and finally a heating step, the latter step being performed after discharge of the vapour introduced into said enclosure for performance of the steaming step.

According to another feature of the invention, the temperature at which the pre-heating operation is performed depends on the nature of the fibre from which the socks are made, the duration of said operation being in the approximate order of from 30 seconds to four minutes.

According to a yet further feature of the invention, the steaming operation is carried out at a pressure of the order from to 100 grams per sq. cm.

In carrying the specified method into effect, the invention provides a machine of the general type including a sealed processing chamber and at least one loading and unloading station whereat the articles to be processed are placed over the forms and removed therefrom after processing, the said forms being arranged in groups of batches upon a turntable for introduction and removal into and from the said chamber.

According to the invention the machine is provided with a centrifugal fan connected with the processing chamber so as to operate as an air blower means during the pre-heating and drying stages of the process, and as a suction means at the end of the steaming stage.

Further features and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate diagrammatically and merely by way of example one embodiment of the hosiery processing machine of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, corresponding with Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view corresponding with Fig. l; the processing chamber being illustrated in section.

Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement for opening and closing the doors of the processing chamber.

United States Patent 0 T 2,874,884 "Patented Feb. 24, 1959 Fig. 5 is anelevation drawn to a larger scale, showing the means for mounting the forms, and

Fig. 6 is a plan view corresponding with Fig. 5.

As already stated the method of the invention makes it possible to shape socks and the like without having first to subject them to a pre-shaping operation of any kind, and comprises passing the socks in either dry or moist condition over appropriate shapes or forms, then inserting them into a sealed processing chamber in which they are subjected to a pre-heating step, and then to a steaming step and finally to a drying step following which the shaped socks are withdrawn from the processing chamber and removed from the forms.

The pro-heating operation is performed at a variable temperature depending on the nature of the fibre used in the manufacture of the socksto be shaped, and uses warm air which may either be delivered intothe processing chamber or generated in the chamber itself, the duration of the step being from about 30 seconds to about 4 minutes. As to the steaming step this is effected in the processing chamber under a slight relative pressure of the order of from about 5 g./sq. cm. to about 100 g./sq. cm. The drying step which follows the steaming step and is performed under similar conditions to those used in the pre-heating step, is only commenced after the steam delivered into the chamber for the steaming step has been discharged from the chamber and a slight vacuum has been created within the chamber.

The primary advantage of the specified process is that the socks do not have to undergo any pre-shaping operation prior to their introduction into the sealed processing chamber of the machine. V

In Figs. 1 to 4 which illustrate a machine construction for carrying into practice the method of the invention,

1 designates a box-shaped frame formed with an inspcction door 2 and having a pillar 3 running vertically through it, with a turntable 4 mounted for rotation on the pillar, said turntable supporting a pair of formcarrying frames 5 and 6 which will be later described in detail.

Arranged on the frame 1 is a processing chamber 7 of arcuate form, having heat-insulated walls and tightly sealed at each end by automatically operated doors 8. The internal dimensions of the chamber are so predetermined that it can contain all of the forms provided on one of the frames 5 and 6 both of which are identical. Mounted within the chamber and towards the rear one of its walls are electrical heating resistors 9 for heating the air discharged through the discharge conduit 10 of a centrifugal fan 11 housed in the frame 1, the conduit being controlled by an automatically operated valve 12 adapted to assume either the dotted-line position in which it seals the conduit 10 or the full-line position wherein it seals an aperture connecting the conduit with atmosphere.

Extending from the base of the processing chamber 7 are two nozzles 13 which open into a collector or mani fold 14 controlled by an automatically operated valve 15 and leading to the fan 11.

The forms having socks mounted on them, supported by the frame 6, being positioned within the chamber 7, the doors 8 of which are closed, valve 12 being in its full-line position and valve 15 being open, the machine operates as follows:

When fan 11 is operated air is conveyed thereby so as to be brought into contact with resistors 9 and is heated thereby, then flows in between the forms located in the chamber 7 and returns to the fan through nozzles 13 and the manifold 14. In this way the pro-heating step is performed and when it is completed the valve 15 is closed, while valve 12 is moved to its dotted-line position. The

chamber 7 being at this time completely sealed the team ng. operation is started by delivering steam into the chamber through the connection 16. On completion of this operation the valve is opened to allow the steam to be discharged from the chamber and a vacuum to be come established in the chamber, vthen the valve 12-returns to its full line position, Both valves 12 and 15 now having returned to their initial positions, the drying operation is carried ,out in the same way as the previous pre-heating operation.

After the drying step has been completed, thedoors 8 being opened, it only remains to rotate the turntable 4 through 180 degrees to withdraw the frame 6 from the processing chamber 7 and introduce into it the frame 5, the forms of which were previously stripped of the socks shaped during .a previous cycle and ,furnished with new eeks to be sh ped.

As a result of the operation of .the machine there always exists a batch of forms outside the processing chamber 7 vfor loading and stripping purposes, and a batch of forms furnished with Seeks to be shaped inside the chamber.

For automatic operation of the machine, each door 8 of the chamber 7 is pivoted on a shaft 17 by means of levers 18 and is closed by means of hook members 19 adapted to engage the top and bottom of the chamber, the movement being caused by mechanically actuated links 20 which remain under tension throughout the process. 1

To facilitate insertion. of the socks over the forms prior to the'treatrnent and stripping the forms after the treatment, the forms 21 (see especially Figs. 5 and 6) are each mounted on a blade 22 provided with a part 23 for removably pivoting the blades on a support 24 which in turn is arranged for removable engagement with the turntable 4. A plurality of such supports 24 mounted in adjacent relation comprise each of the formcarrier frames 5 and 6 mentioned above the supports 24 may be secured in their position relative to each other by a rod 25.

It will be understood that the foregoing disclosure of the machine as illustrated is to be taken as -purely -ex planatory, but not restrictive, of the invention, since various modifications may be made in the details of construction thereof without exceeding the scope of the invention. Thus, the means for controlling the operation of valves 12 and 15, rotation of turntable 4 and opening and closure of the doors 8, may assume any suitable form. Moreover, the machine may if desired be provided with steam generating means incorporated in it.

What is claimed is: 1

A hosiery shaping apparatus comprising, in combination, a scalable processing chamber; having vertical side walls of substantially segmentary-cylindrical shape and end walls; inlet and outlet doors hingedly supported and forming parts of said end wallsf'respect'ive'ly, and extending radially with respect to .saidside walls when in closed position; support means rotatable substantially about the axis of said cylindrical walls and peripherally extending into said chamber; hosiery forms removably mounted on the periphery of saidsupportmeansfor movement through said chamber :by way of said and of said outlet doors; fan means for moving a gas;

intake and discharge conduits connecting said an means to said chamber; gas outlet means leading into the atmos-' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,646,194 Berger et a1 July 21, 19 53 2,689,071 Richter Sept. 14, 1954 2,705,096 Scott et a1 Mar. 29, 1955 Richter Oct. 19', 1948 

